Striking Newcomer To Port Line

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 8

Striking Newcomer To Port Line

Vessels of the Port Line are noted for their immaculate condition and appearance. The company’s newest vessel, now paying her second visit to New Zealand, maintains the tradition of this handsome merchant fleet. She is the 13,848-tan motor vessel Port Nicholson which is due at Lyttelton from Port Chalmers early next week. Her master is Captain E. W. R. Young.

A product of Harland and Wolff, Belfast, the 18J-knot cargo liner, which has accommodation for 12 passengers, was launched on May 4, last year, by Mrs T. L. Macdonald, wife of the High Commissioner for New Zealand. The ninth Port Line vessel built by this shipyard since the Second World War, the Port Nicholson is the third Port Line vessel to bear this name. The first, formerly the Makarinia, was mined off Dunkirk in 1916. A second Port Nicholson was lost in thd Atlantic, in 1942, after being torpedoed:

Fully air - conditioned throughout, the Port Nicholson embodies all modern navigational and cargo appliances to expedite the service. Shelias an overall length of 573 ft 6in, a 75ft. 9in beam, and a loaded draft of 30ft 9 J in. A notable feature of this strikingly modern vessel is the fact that she has more refrigerated cargo capacity than any other ship in the New Zealand trade, or for that matter in Lloyd’s Register, at the present time. In view of this, it is believed that she is the world’s largest carrier of refrigerated cargo.

On her outward voyage, the Port Nicholson discharged at Australian ports and prior to calling here, will have loaded at Opua, Auckland, Napier, Bluff and Port Chalmers. At Lyttelton she will complete loading refrigerated and general cargo for London. Hull, Avonmouth and Liverpool and is expected to sail on August 2.